Spectrum of Skin Diseases among Inmates in a Nigerian Correctional Centre in Southern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous morbidities are not uncommon in correctional centres and environmental cleanliness and sanitation practices influence their prevalence and pattern. Overcrowding and poor living conditions are common in correctional facilities and may increase the prevalence of skin diseases amongst inmates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of dermatoses in a correctional centre in southern Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was an institutional-based cross-sectional descriptive study carried out during a health outreach to the facility involving inmates of a correctional centre in southern Nigeria. Using a purpose-designed questionnaire, sociodemographic data containing information on sex, age, prison status, and number of inmates per room was obtained from a total of 252 inmates who consented to the study. They were subsequently clinically examined for skin diseases. Dermatological tools like dermoscopes were used to boost diagnostic accuracy where expedient. All data collected were subsequently analysed using SPSS version 23.0.

RESULTS

The prevalence of cutaneous morbidities amongst the inmates was 224(88.9%). A total of 332 skin morbidities were observed in 224 prison inmates with a ratio of 1.5:1 per affected inmate. The common dermatoses encountered in our study were scabies 181(71.8%), bedbugs 38(15.1%), dermatophytosis 24(9.5%), pityriasis versicolor 20(7.9%), and pediculosis 18(7.1%) in a decreasing order of frequency.

CONCLUSION

Cutaneous morbidities are common among prison inmates in southern Nigeria. Scabies was the most common dermatoses observed.